ABOARD THE USS ESSEX  Enhanced chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (ECBRN) team members with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit place a tamper-proof seal over a liquid sample container holding a mach chemical/biological agent to simulate chain-of-custody protocol, to ensure the sample is accurately and safely tracked from the ship to the laboratory after conducting a chemical/biological agent reconnaissance and sampling exercise here Nov. 16. The team conducted a three-day shipboard ECBRN training exercise focusing on the proper response measures and techniques for handling ECBRN-related scenarios for visit, board search and seizure mission on ships and other structures.

Unexpected Measure Against Chemical Threats

Drone technology will have an important role in the UK’s defenses against chemical weapon attacks. Defense secretary Gavin Williamson has announced an £11m plan to boost the defense, outlining how drones and robotics would be deployed in potentially dangerous areas to prevent human life being put at unnecessary risk.
The news come just weeks after the secretary of state promised how drones would be key in the future of defence in Britain.
The move comes a year after the Salisbury nerve agent attack on a Russian ex-spy, allegedly by Russian military agents. A painstaking clean up was conducted by the authorities of locations and buildings around Salisbury which were feared to have been contaminated.
The money will be spent deploying drones and robots into potentially hazardous areas, cutting the risk to personnel and identifying threats faster. It will also be spent on improving Britain’s ability to analyse with more speed and accuracy potentially lethal substances and combat the effects of chemical agents, according to telegraph.co.uk.
Williamson added: “We recognise we need resilience to face evolving threats which is why we have invested £11 million into ensuring we have a world-leading capability.”
The funding will be available in the new financial year and will be invested straight into programs that will aim to benefit DSTL scientists and the Armed Forces, according to commercialdroneprofessional.com.